Robert ‘Bob’ Boagey has lived many lives in his 100 years.

From World War II machine gunner to owning a post office, migrating to Australia, and working at Holden’s Elizabeth plant.

The great-grandfather fondly looks back on his long life and has spent years typing out his life story and memories.

Bob says his career with the British Army, including service in Europe during World War II and throughout the deserts of Africa, informed much of the rest of his life including a love for Land Rovers and wine.

“My army service did me a lot of good, I wouldn’t wish a war on anybody, but I revelled in the army life,” he says.

During his 12 years of service in the army, Bob was awarded the Military Medal for courage and devotion to duty serving in Italy in 1944.

In 1952, Bob and his family bought a post office and general store in North Yorkshire where they lived and worked for 15 years. Bob, his wife Grace, and their sons Lance and Neil later migrated to South Australia where Bob began a long career at Holden’s Elizabeth plant.

 “I’d never been in a factory in my life and had to walk in and start working there,” he says.

“Part of my job was to turn out the biggest panels of the car, I really enjoyed a lot of it.”

In his spare time, Bob went off on four-wheel drive holidays throughout Australia and helped to run community clubs including the Society of Yorkshiremen Elizabeth and Land Rover Owners Club of Australia, South Australia Branch.

“At one point, I was secretary to five different clubs in Elizabeth,” he says.

Bob recently celebrated his 100^th birthday with not one, but two birthday parties at AnglicareSA’s Elizabeth Dutton Court residential aged care site.

“Some people I’d not seen for years, and years and it was an absolutely fabulous night,” he says.

And the secret to living to 100?

“I wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t stubborn. You’ve got to be your own master,” Bob says with a smile.

They say many hands make light work, but in this case many hands made amazing art.

The yet to be named artwork was developed at a Social and Economic Wellbeing Cultural Day at Tauondi Aboriginal College in Port Adelaide late last year attended by about 100 employees.

Head of Social and Economic Wellbeing, Sue Christophers, says the day was designed to increase the cultural learning of her team through listening and participating. 

“We had a range of activities for the day including yarning circles, weaving workshops, cooking with native food, and Aboriginal Cultural Mindfulness and Movement Workshops,” Sue says.

“It was unstructured with various sessions at different times – meaning that staff could participate in whatever they wanted to throughout the day.”

The painting was an all-day collaborative art project developed under the guidance and expertise of Sam Gollan. 

“Sam is a Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna woman and is AnglicareSA’s Principal Aboriginal Practitioner with Children Youth and Families,” she says.

“She also happens to be an amazing artist and we are grateful for her guidance on this project.”

The painting has been proudly hanging on the wall in the training room at the Outer Southern Hub in Christies Beach since the Cultural Day, however it is shortly set to be given a new home, taking pride of place in the reception area of the Hub.

You can check out more of Sam’s artwork at her Facebook page.

Volunteering at AnglicareSA’s Elizabeth East Residential Aged Care site for two days a week is about more than just supporting the residents for Mollie – it’s also developing her self-confidence.

Each week, Mollie, 19, joins other volunteers at Elizabeth East to support the residents with activities and social interaction all with a friendly smile and good conversation.

“When I finished high school and I was looking into joining the workforce, I felt like I wasn’t quite ready for it,” Mollie says.

“So, I looked into volunteering, and someone suggested I come here to Elizabeth East, and it has been the best thing as it has really improved my social skills.”

Mollie and her fellow volunteers support the team at the busy aged care site helping residents with regular activities and checking in on them to see how they are and if they want to get involved.

“I also like to ask about what they’ve been up to, anything they want to talk about really and once they’re out amongst the activities of the day I like to encourage them to join in and get involved.”

I just love how confident volunteering has made me just by talking to people and doing things by myself because they’ll say ‘OK, this is your job today, can you please go and do this’ and I’m like ‘OK’.

It’s that social interaction that inspires Mollie to continue volunteering, mixing it in with her part-time employment where she works on her own.

“It really helps me get up in the morning and get out and about talking to people because I do notice that when I’m not spending time interacting with others it can affect my social skills.

“I just love how confident volunteering has made me just by talking to people and doing things by myself because they’ll say ‘OK, this is your job today, can you please go and do this’ and I’m like ‘OK’.

“Plus, as a young person I have an opportunity here to gather so much free life advice,” she adds with a smile.

Volunteers play a vital role in the day-to-day running of a residential aged care site, and Customer Wellness Coordinator for AnglicareSA’s Elizabeth East and Dutton Court sites, Tracey Wyatt, says Mollie is no exception.

“Mollie is such a great volunteer with a gorgeous personality,” Tracey says. “Mollie will happily do any task that is assigned to her and especially enjoys doing hand pampers and painting the ladies’ nails.

“She is so valued at Elizabeth East and even though she has a part-time job out of the kindness of her heart, she continues to volunteer when she can.

“Residents have a great rapport with Mollie, and nothing is too much trouble for her.”

At AnglicareSA, we’re proud to have around 300 volunteers who give their time to support people in need. Volunteers are an integral part of our support services — their generosity and commitment enable us to deliver a broad range of services to the South Australian community.

You can Register Your Interest online by clicking here, or alternatively view our current volunteer opportunities here.

For Gatluit Chuol, freedom means the right to safety and the ability to help others in crisis feel safe and supported.

Refugee Week in 2023 celebrates the theme of Finding Freedom, and this is something Gatluit seeks to help other refugees achieve in his role as a settlement coach in AnglicareSA’s Settlement Engagement and Transition Support program.

“Refugee Week always reminds me of my journey as a refugee from Sudan through a refugee camp in Ethiopia then to Australia,” he says.

“It changed my perception of hardships as a refugee.”

Gatluit describes himself as one of the lucky ones – spending just five years in the refugee camp before being supported by UNHCR to settle in Adelaide in 2000.

“My experiences help me see everyone, not just refugees, but all Australians and people going through hardships, as humans experiencing trauma and in need support and care.”

That commitment to care led to Gatluit, a former teacher, working in the refugee sector for the past 13 years, including since 2019 with AnglicareSA, giving back and acknowledging all those who supported him in finding his freedom in Australia.

“What I love about Australia is the kindness of people,” Gatluit says. “Australian people say ‘Hi mate’ even if it’s the first time they have met you and that makes you welcome and happy.

“To me that represents kindness, compassion, and empathy and I am thankful that I am able to return some of what I received everyday through my work every day with AnglicareSA supporting newly arrived families.”